Drinking on board

[Ralph Knowles]

Its now fifty five years since I was exposed to asbestos and I feel that I have dodged a big bullet, fortunately, when reading about the casualties who succumbed to its lethal after effects. I was a junior on SS Benmhor for two round trips to the far east from Europe. When full away at speed, the steam pipework vibrated and the 'monkey dung' would gradually slacken on the pipes and puff out near the joints and valves. E/R fans stirred it up into a perpetual rising cloud, which sparkled in the sunlight beaming down through the open skylights. Added to that, being a junior, I had the delights of mixing the 'dung' when patching was required in the top of the boiler steam drums. We juniors were also exposed to serious contamination of soot and other combustion debris when we 'blew tubes' at the back of the two Foster Wheeler water tube boilers. We had to double up on the boiler suit, raid the rag bag, cover our heads and necks with said rags and have more wrapped round the face, and top off with a set of grubby goggles. Welders gloves completed the garb. There was barely body room between the boiler and the hold bulkhead where, in their wisdom, the designers had installed the Clyde Blowers. The back panels of the boiler casing were held on by pins and wedges with the dreaded asbestos ribbon joint, which was rubbed a bit thin and fumes leaked out all over. Blowing tubes only made matters worse. On my second voyage, our complaints about the conditions, especially at the top blower, Economiser?, must have been listened to, as a mod had been done during the European coast where an extended spindle was installed through the engine room casing out to the deck space at No4 hatch coaming. Absolute luxury!! It only took them twenty six years!

[Steve Singleton]

We'd emigrated to Aussie & Back when I was a wee lad, about 7....on the Strathmore- Strathaird ships in 1960/62 which set me on course to seek a sea going career in 1970......

The thought of ship without beer, even at the age of 18 might have changed my mind. All the ships I served on had bars. Only very rarely were they abused...at least to the rest of us. I'm not saying that there were NEVER EVER anyone indulging in secret cabin drinking........some did not socialise...and were accused of being "Wardrobe Drinkers" but not that they were "Boozers" or alcoholics...merely a bit "anti-social" and they preferred their own company...Fine: Live & Let Live.

But the thought of the 5 years I did on the West African coast without a beer or two onboard, would have curtailed my seagoing career much earlier! On one trip we had 93 days at anchor up a Nigerian creek near Warri.. due to the famous Cement Fiasco at Lagos-Apapa...... (There are two yarns I could tell of that trip alone!) Somehow..... not sure how...we never run out of beer!

At one time I was on ships what Elder-Dempsters called the US-WA run...USA to West Africa. Brilliant times.. (No Bay of Biscay nightmare!)...join & leave in the U.S. Excellent! Spent my 21st Birthday in NYC..under the Brooklyn Bridge..5 minute walk to Manhattan.
Up to 14 days alongside..... heaven! The parties we had.... Great times......but then counterbalanced by the "other half of the trip" on the West African coast..... But...Happy days overall.

Remind me to tell you about the time I almost got arrested by the Chief of Police for Liberia in the port of Monrovia....... It was close.....( Edit: I was on board my ship....!!!)

[j.sabourn]

Believe I have a post somewhere about an incident there also Steve , but must have been in the 60s.was mate on an ore carrier when received a visit by two dignateries in full uniform and sporting all sorts of gold braid one was immigration and the other police. Came to me and said it is after sunset and you still have your Liberian courtesy flag up ! what are you going to do about it ?, meaning how much was I going to fork out.i:said one moment please I have an urgent job to do, saw the 3 mate and told him to get the effing flag down pronto ,went back to my two unwanted guests and kept them talking on mundane matters giving the sloppy3/m time, then said what broughtn you on board then. ? They went back to their original,theme of dash me something.i said I have no flags up you must be seeing things and told them to,eff off.,They then went down to see the chief steward and pulled his storeroom to,pieces , whether he paid up,have no,idea as didn’t listen to any complaints he had just said see the old man I said. JS.

[Des Jenkins]

I was In a hospital in NZ when my young brother-in-law died of asbestos, terrible thing to see, my wife was bereft. So I was glad to remember the Scots lad who, when I started training to be a carpenter told me if ever you work with any asbestos Always wear a handkerchief or a rag over your mouth and nose, something I always did.
Des

[James Domleo]

On my last ship in 1961,I remember propping up my relief in the corner of the bridge wing and making sure that the helmsman who I knew to be reliable knew what to do.(He was too fond of his gin and tonics).This was in the middle of the Indian Ocean.He was such a lovely chap that I hadn’t the heart to report him.